North Castle incumbents fight for ballot spot after GOP rift

Aug. 4, 2013

Written by

Robert Marchant

NORTH CASTLE — Two members of the Town Board are fighting for the Republican ballot line in a primary election next month after the official endorsement went to a first-time candidate.

John Cronin and Diane DiDonato-Roth, both elected in 2009, were denied the Republican endorsement after a rift in GOP leadership, but collected enough signatures to force the runoff. The endorsement went to Barbara DiGiacinto.

Voters will pick two of the three candidates on Sept. 10.

DiGiacinto, 65, chairs the town’s Housing Board and has been a regular at town meetings for years. She is making her first run at elected office.

“I’ve been encouraged to run by a cross-section of North Castle residents — Republicans, Democrats, independents and Conservatives,” she said.

DiGiacinto, a retired English teacher, was critical of recent Town Board work sessions held on weekday mornings, saying, “There’s a need to have 100 percent open government.” She also pledged to “restore civility and dignity to town meetings,” and said she would make every effort not to raise taxes.

DiDonato-Roth, 54, a real estate agent, said she brings her business perspective to town government, as well as a strong background in planning and zoning issues.

“The question I always ask is, ‘What’s going to make a home worth more?’ ” she said. “Better parks, better roads, better services and better commercial districts.” She said she takes a detail-oriented approach to the town’s infrastructure and has gained the experience in office that would pay off with a second term.

Cronin, 49, runs his own business in the travel industry and has worked in finance. He said he is looking to continue a number of projects he has been working on — moving the historic Miller House to a new site near Clove Road Park, creating a bike path in town and expanding playing fields.

The primary winners will face Democrats Jose Berra and Barry Reiter in the general election. Board members serve four years and are paid over $18,000 annually.